Refrigerating system



Sspth 111 1923, 11,4617968 v J. F. WINKLEIR 7 REFJRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 17, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept 11 1923. 11,467,%8

' J. F; WINKLER REFHIGERA'IING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 17. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 11, 1923.

UHTED STATES JOSEIE I. WINKLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

. BEIBIGERATING SYSTEM.

Application filed lanuary 17, 1922. Serial No. 529,840.

7 To all whom it may cencern.

such oil is. collected in and caused to flow from the low the-system.

It is further desired to provide a refrigcrating system of the above type having such an arrangement of parts as to insure the return of the oil to the crank case in a cool condition, preferably under the action of gravity;the invention especially contemplating a simple, compact, inexpensive and reliable arrangement of parts for attaining the desired end.

These objects and, other advantageous pressure'or evaporating side of ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, ref- 'erence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a refrigerating system illustrating my invention as applied thereto; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modified form of my invention. 1

In the above drawings 1 represents a compressor, in the case illustrated of the two: cylinder.type, having its cranks set 180 apart and with the moving parts in the two portions of the crank caseof substantially equal displacement. A condenser 2 is connected to the "compressor by a pipe 3 and the refrigerant liquefied in said condenser is collected in a receiver 4. From this receiver a pipe 5 leads to any suitable automatically acting device 6 for feeding the oil which may leak past the pistons of the compressor, together with the liquefied refrigerant, 'to a refrigerant evaporator 7 shown in the prtsent instance diagrammatically as a tank, which by reason of the evaporation of the liquefied refrigerant within it is designed to cool a room or other surrounding space or objects. From the top of this tank 7 a pipe 8 leads to the intake of the compressor 1 and from a point adjacent the bottom of said tank a second pipe 9 leads into the crank case of the compressor independently of the suction pipe 8.

Under conditions of operation, the crank case of the compressor is substantially filled with a suitable lubricating agent such as oil, glycerine, or the like and the tank 7 in addition to a body to of liquefied refrigerant, collects under the latter a body y of oil which has passed from the crank case of the compressor past the pistons, through the pipe 3, condenser 2, receiver 4, pipe 5 and feed controlling device 6. The gas compressed by the compressor 1 is liquefied in the condenser 2 and collected in the re-' ceiver 4 from whence it is forced into the tank 7. In the latter it evaporates and in gaseous form is drawn by the suction pipe 8 back to the compressor.

Since the crank case is normally-maintained full of oil, any of it leaking past the working parts or pistons is at once antomatically replaced by a like volume of lubricant flowing from the bottom of the tank 7 through the pipe 9 which opens into said tank a short distance above its bottom in order to prevent flow of dirt or material other than the lubricant, back to the compressor.

By the above arrangement of parts it is noted that the oil returned to the crank case is delivered from the cold or low ressure side of the system rather than rom the high pressure side, so that the compressor itself is cooled by said oil as well as lubricated. This action is not only continuous but, as above described,.is automatic.

In that form of my invention shown in Fig. 2, which is particularly adapted to a compressor 1 having but a single cylinder and unbalanced moving parts in its crank case, the oil collecting 1n the-lower part of the evaporating tank 7. flows through a separator 10 for dirt or other foreign material and from thence passes through a pipe 11 into a trap 12. The latter consists of a container connected through a pipe 13 with the interior of the crank case and also with a pressureequalizing pipe 14 to the upper part of said crank case.. Within the container is a float 15 governing a valve 16 in such manner that the level of the liquid in the crank case is maintained substantially constant. In the event of the oil level falling, the float 15 falls and automatically admits oil through the valve 16 from the lower part ofthe tank 7 until it has risen,

to the predetermined level, whereupon the consequent rising of the float in the container closes said valve 16 and temporarily prevents further flow.

As before, the flow of oil to the crank case occurs from the cold and low pressure side of the refrigerating system and is altogether automatic, tending to exert a cooling action on the compressor and insuring that a pre-.

frigerant is gasified; a conduit connecting said container with the intake of the compressor; and a second conduit connecting the crank case of the compressor with the container in position to draw ofl therefrom by gravity and while=the system is in .operation the oil collecting therein.

2. The combination in a refrigerating system of a compressor; and means constructed to be operative while the system is in action for automatically returning to said compressor oil collecting in the cool portion of said system comprising a conduit positioned to permit such return flow to occur under the action of gravity.

3. The combination in a refrigerating system of a compressor having a crank case; a condenser connected to receive and liquefy gas from the compressor; a container in which refrigerant is gasified; conduits con necting said apparatus in a closed system; and a conduit connecting the lower part of the container with the crank case of thecompressor in position to permit flow of oil from the container to the crank case by gravity. i 4. The combination in a refrigerating system of a compressor; a condenser connected to receive and liquefy gas from the compressor; a container in which refrigerant is gasified; conduits connecting said apparatus in a closed system; a conduit connecting the lower part of the container with the crank case of the compressor; the parts being positioned to cause flow by gravity through said conduit, and a device connected in said latter conduit for maintaining the level of liquid in the crank case substan" tially constant.

5. The combination in a refrigerating system of a compressor; a condenser connected thereto for liquefying refrigerant; a container; a device for feeding liquid refrigerant from the condenser to said container; a conduit connecting the upper portion of the container with the intake of the compressor; and a second conduit connecting the crank case of the compressor to the bottom portion of the container and positioned to automatically return by gravity and whilethe system is in operation lubri' cant collecting below the refrigerant.

JOSEPH F. WINKLER. 

